Focusing on food can be an important part of creation care. Buying produce from local farmers creates relationships and cuts down on fossil fuels used to transport food long distances. Participating in gleaning programs helps ensure that food goes to hungry people instead of landfills. Promoting awareness of food deserts in our communities makes us mindful of the social justice issues surrounding food. The Rev. Kate Fields is a biologist turned pastor and her passion is connecting food and faith. Rev. Fields shares some ways churches can build community around food and creation care.
Rev. Fields is Pastor of Children’s Ministry and Discipleship at Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Kate is developing a curriculum that churches can follow as a way to learn more about local food systems. These food systems include policy makers, farmers, processors, distributors, consumers, and those who ensure that good food doesn’t go to waste.
Rev. Fields hopes more churches will look into ideas such as:
- Having a weekly church CSA pickup (community supported agriculture)
- Getting to know local farmers and the ways they care for the earth
- Volunteering for gleaning and food pantry projects the reduce food waste
- Organizing a farmer’s market in the church parking lot
- Asking church caterers to prepare fresh, local produce
- Educating children on where food comes from
- Turning church land into a community garden
For more favorite Methodist recipes, and food and fellowship stories, visit our webpage: UMC.org/OurUMTable or our page on Pinterest.
This video was produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, TN. Contact is Joe Iovino.
This video was first posted on April 18, 2023.
UMC.org is a ministry of United Methodist Communications. For more than 80 years, we have been delivering messages of hope and leading the way in communications ministry. Join us in this vital work by making a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.
